Desolate: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when describing a place that is barren, empty, and devoid of life, often conveying a sense of abandonment.

• The old town looked desolate after the factory closed down

Use when describing a person who feels alone and disconnected from others, generally carrying a negative emotional tone.

• Despite being in a crowd, he felt incredibly lonely

Use when describing a person or a place that appears abandoned, sad, and hopeless, often evoking feelings of deep sadness.

• She felt forlorn and abandoned after her friends left without her

Use when describing a place or person that is physically separated from others, often implying solitude but not necessarily with negative emotions.

• The cabin in the woods felt isolated but also peaceful

This word is used to describe places that are empty and make you feel sad or lonely. It can also be used to describe a person who feels very sad and alone.

• The once vibrant town was now a desolate wasteland.
• She felt desolate after her friend moved away.

Refers to land that is unable to produce plants or crops. It can also describe something that lacks stimulation or interest.

• The farmer stared at the barren fields, wondering how he would feed his family.
• The conversation was barren and uninteresting.

Describes situations or places that seem depressing and without hope. It's often used for weather or the future.

• The landscape was bleak and covered in snow.
• The economic outlook for the coming months is quite bleak.

Means that a place is empty of people. It implies that people should be there but are not.

• The streets were deserted in the middle of the night.
• They found a deserted island in the middle of the ocean.